Tasting Drakness

Prologue

Something felt off this morning. I didn’t know what, but something felt different as I glanced around the crowded room. Leering eyes watched me from where I sat alone in the mess hall. I sat on the edge of my seat where I sat at the table furthest from everybody. I always tried to sit closest to and exit but my usual spot was taken. I liked it near the door because it gave me an escape route.

For the most part, I tried to go unnoticed; no such luck. I could feel all of their sleazy gazes as they watched me hungrily. I hated this place. I hated that there were no other women here. Most of all, I hated being the subject they loved to torment. All made worse by the fact I could do nothing to stop them.

Keeping to myself, I thought they would leave me alone, but that must be impossible. In a room full of men, I stuck out like a sore thumb. The surrounding chatter quieted down and made me quickly glance around before I ducked my head when I noticed them. Darius had entered the room with my other three mates. They walked to the back of the room, which I thought was a little odd; I rarely saw them here.

Usually, they don’t eat here with everyone else. My mates are everyone’s superiors? None of the rules applied to them. They made the rules, and I was just another pawn that had to follow their orders. It appeared they had something to talk about with their recruits because Darius spoke about some crap I showed no interest in knowing. Keeping my head down, I ate quickly, wanting nothing more than to get the hell out of here.

The moment I stood up to dump my rubbish in the bin my muscles spasmed, my feet faltered as I took a step away from the table, and my entire body locked up with one command. “Aleera, freeze”

My entire body stopped at the command, I couldn’t move an inch, and everyone erupted with laughter. Oh, how I tried, but I couldn’t so much set a toe out of line. What were these savage men going to subject me to this time? They never usually went this far. Usually, they tormented me, chased me, hurt me, or used their magic on me. However, this is the first time they used compulsion on me, and it felt wrong as every muscle tensed in my body.

They were always happy to witness my suffering. Kalen, however, glanced around the room before

cruel smirk. He sauntered over to me before he stopped in front of me. Zac’s eyes hungrily looked me over from head to toe. Zac was the worst I have come across here; he had no boundaries. He was

up straight,” He ordered, and I gritted my teeth, my forced body doing as commanded as Zac’s cold magic caressed

to say, Aleera?” He chuckled, and the entire room laughed

you want me to beg? Beg for you

nothing with these monster men. They didn’t care that I was

a little show for us” Zac said in an amused tone. I glanced around the room to find the men all were leaning forward eagerly; one even

they had similar expressions of disdain. They would not help me, not that I expected them to, they never did. If they just told them who I was to them if their soldiers knew. I wouldn’t have to deal with this shit daily. I knew they would deny it if I spoke up. They threatened to kill me if I told anyone here. So I had kept my mouth

Zac, who looked me up and down. Was he going to make me dance? What did he mean by a show? I was already on display. How much

say no?” Zac

right, you can’t, poor helpless Aleera, always so easily influenced, so easily overpowered,” He mocked, his demonic eyes running the length of me in a sleazy obscene way. His gaze stopped at my breasts, and I felt my stomach drop somewhere deep and cold within me. I knew it before he said it. Prayed I was mistaken, but his following

in me, even though I knew it was pointless. My eyes burned as tears threatened to spill,

completely bare” My fingers forcibly start to undo the buttons on my black blouse. My breathing became harsher, and a sob tore from my lips that sounded more like a whimper. My vision blurred as my top fell open and revealed my black bra. Zac yanked my shirt off me completely, the shirt tore off at his forcefulness. The scars that laced my skin were on display for everyone to